Louisville-based Copper & Kings American Brandy Co. is launching a very limited release, small batch, artisanal gin. Double distilled in a Vendome copper pot still, “Alley Cat” gin is apple-brandy based with classic gin botanicals and aged in a Kentucky Bourbon barrel for 22 months. It is non-chill filtered and unadulterated by any post distillation infusion of flavor or color.

The Alley Cat is a follow up on to the 2015 Serbian Juniper barrel aged gin – the Stray Cat.

Only 750 bottles (375mL each) will be produced and sold at the distillery store, with a tiny selection of superlative bars and liquor stores. The original fine art is illustrated by renowned Louisville artist Douglas Miller.

“We like to do different things with our gin; no chill-filtration, an unusual apple-brandy base, just a double-distillation, no compounding and no GNS re-distillation.” said founder Joe Heron. “We like slightly oily, viscous barrel aged expressions, the “Old Tom” style profile, and Douglas Miller sets the tone with his beautiful illustrations, so we are going to keep picking from the same litter.”

“Whoa! Super smooth, huge aromatics, beautiful barrel, this cat’s cool,” said head distiller Brandon O’Daniel. “Sipped over ice with Butchertown Tonic, it’s amazing that with everything going on with the spirit it remains so drinkable and versatile. We have it a little proof punch to balance the viscosity a little.”

Copper & Kings Alley Cat Gin (98 proof/49% ABV)

$40 per 375mL bottle

Appearance: Not as dark as we expected after 22 months. Is there such a thing as botanically brown?

Taste: Not sweet. Very balanced and surprisingly little overt Bourbon notes like vanilla with faint fennel and spicy cinnamon on the back end, just a hint of orange blossom.

Finish: Silky smooth with no sharp edges. Not spiky or hot but quite clean and crisp but definitely a creamy mouth-feel.

Alley Cat will be launched Friday, April 8 at 8 p.m. with a seminar and demonstration on the history of gin usage in cocktails by Copper & Kings national brand ambassador Chris Wilkins, followed by Alley Cat gin tasting with head distiller Brandon O’Daniel. Artist Douglas Miller will also be on hand to sign bottles.

The distillery also produces the following portfolio of fine distilled spirits:

Copper & Kings uses small batch copper pot-distillation to forge untraditional, non-derivative, pure pot-distilled American apple and grape brandies and absinthe that are non-chill filtered with no added sugar, colors, flavors or synthetic chemicals. The state-of-the-art distillery exclusively focuses on the distillation of brandy. Copper & Kings, located at 1121 E. Washington St. in Butchertown, is owned by beverage entrepreneurs Joe and Lesley Heron. Products are currently available in 21 markets in the South, Midwest and Northeast. For more information, visit www.copperandkings.com or follow @CopperAndKings on Facebook and Twitter.